Nerve tumor causes dizziness

September 6, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Dizziness is a common problem that you’ve addressed a lot. I suffered for over a year, having been diagnosed with Meniere’s after a CT scan showed nothing. Much later, another doctor ordered an MRI that showed an acoustic neuroma. This condition isn’t as uncommon as once thought. I would encourage anyone with continuing dizziness to have an MRI. It saved my life. I was successfully treated with a gamma knife procedure and have been fine ever since.

DEAR READER: An acoustic neuroma (also known as a vestibular schwannoma) is a benign, slow-growing tumor on the primary nerve leading from the inner ear to the brain.
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Vertigo better treated when cause is known

March 4, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have had vertigo for several months. I’m on Meclizine right now, but need help.

DEAR READER: Vertigo is the sensation your environment is spinning or moving around you. An inner-ear disorder, an acoustic neuroma, the sudden movement of your head in a certain direction, Meniere’s disease, migraine headaches, arteriosclerosis, diabetes and more can cause the condition.

Make an appointment with your doctor for an examination and testing. He can zero in on the cause, make a referral if necessary, and get you back on track.

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Vertigo may be due to wax

February 5, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I’m a 72-year-old female who has problems with vertigo. It comes and goes. I get dizzy when I lie down. I’ve had the problem for years and have been to an ear-nose-and-throat specialist. He removes wax from both my ears, and that helps for a short while, but it does come back. Can you give me any advice?

DEAR READER: Vertigo is the sensation that a person or his or her surroundings are moving or spinning. It differs from dizziness (vertigo, lightheadedness, loss of balance and more).
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Meds make reader dizzy

August 25, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am constantly dizzy. I was taking 160 milligrams of Diovan for a long time, but my doctor changed me to 150 milligrams of Tekturna. Now I’m dizzy on that. My blood pressure is 118/66, so what causes the dizziness?

DEAR READER: There are a number of causes for dizziness, including vertigo, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere’s disease, inflammation of the inner ear, migraine headaches and as a result of using specific medications. Dizziness can also result from specific medications, low-blood-pressure readings (hypotension), Parkinson’s and other neurological disorders, nerve damage to the legs, inner-ear abnormalities and anxiety.
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Reader offers help to other readers

August 8, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I enjoy reading your columns and have comments on two of them. The first one is concerning the writer who felt dizzy constantly. I had a similar situation a couple of years ago. I went to a chiropractor (for the first time), where I was adjusted several times over a two-week period. The dizziness disappeared.

The second article was from a mother about her son’s cluster headaches. I have been using essential oils for years now. Peppermint oil on the temples has been effective for migraines and cluster headaches, and also helps to relieve nasal congestion. Anyone who uses this remedy must be careful when using full-strength oils. Many people choose to dilute the oil in half with pure vegetable oil. Petroleum-based oils shouldn’t be used to dilute the essential oils because they can inhibit the effectiveness.
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Daily Column

November 22, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have a friend in his late 80’s. He has spent several thousand dollars going from doctor to doctor trying to find the cause of his dizziness. One day while talking to one of his friends, the topic of dizziness came up. She, too, had a problem with it and discovered that if she used a square Halls cough drop, the dizziness went away.

He now carries these with him where ever he goes and takes one as soon as he starts to feel dizzy. I told him he should write to you about it and he asked me to do it for him.

I also recently bought Castiva for another friend in his late 80’s who has gout in his big toe. It has worked well for him.

I would like to thank you for all the good advice you provide in your column. It has helped many people I know. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

March 7, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 79-year-old male. I have had three separate heart bypass surgeries; needless to say, I do have heart problems. I am currently under the care of two doctors for this, a cardiologist and a defibrillator specialist.

My current problem is vertigo/dizziness. This started April 2007 and I can’t seem to find any relief. My doctors have ruled out my heart as the cause. I have seen my family physician, a neurologist, an ear-nose-and-throat specialist and two emergency room physicians. No one can tell me what to do to get relief, only that I have vertigo.

How do I get someone to help me rather than just telling me what I have?

DEAR READER:
Vertigo is an inability to keep normal balance while standing or sitting caused by an irritation in the inner ear. It can be accompanied by nausea and weakness. Symptoms often lessen or disappear shortly after lying down or remaining motionless for several minutes.

Doctors often recommend and have success with the Brandt-Daroff exercises and the Epley maneuver. The Brandt-Daroff exercises are done at home while sitting on a bed or couch, quickly leaning to one side for 30 seconds and then sitting up. Duplicate the exercise on the other. Repeat about 20 times. It is best to have someone with you if you are worried about the possibility of falling.

The Epley maneuver is performed by a physician and is primarily used to treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. While sitting down, he or she will turn your head 45 degrees toward the affected side, lean you back and finally sit you up. This is repeated on the opposite side. The last move will be to lean you forward about 30 degrees.

Another option is an over-the-counter dietary supplement called Lipo-Flavonoid. It is a combination of vitamins, minerals and bioflavonoids that was developed to treat the symptoms of Meniere’s disease (vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss). Judging from my readers, when it works, it is amazing; however, not everyone experiences relief.

I recommend that you seek a second opinion from an ear-nose-and-throat specialist. He or she should be able to offer more treatment options and in-depth information.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Ear Infections and Disorders”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

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